MR ATTLEE IS CONFIDENT

Southland Times, Issue 24239, 24 September 1940, Page 6

MR ATTLEE IS CONFIDENT

“NO ROOM FOR EASY CONFIDENCE"

(British Official Wireless)

RUGBY, September 22. The “Battle of Britain” was the subject of a broadcast by Mr C. R. Attlee, a member of the War Cabinet. He said that all the world was watching. The hopes and fears of millions were involved in the result and all were asking: “How goes the fight?” Stating that he was one of those charged with the duty of working at the centre and thus was able to survey the whole.field with a full knowledge of what was happening, Mr Attlee said: “I speak with a deep sense of confidence in the success of our cause.” After a tribute to the work of the Royal Air Force, Mr Attlee continued: “Our forces on land are in good heart. I include in these forces not only the Navy, Army, Air Force and Home Guard, but also the civil defence services, the police, workers in industries and, indeed, all the men, women and children of our nation. We are all in this war. Those who have been killed in air raids have died for their country no less than the soldiers killed in battle, for this present air attack is not directed primarily on our factories, docks and public services, but on the spirit of our people. It is here that Hitler is sustaining his heaviest defeat. I have just been visiting some great works whose output is vital to our war effort. If Hitler by his attacks could cut that output by half he would have an important success, but he will not succeed. The workers refuse to be intimidated. I have been visiting, whenever possible, our people whose relatives are being killed, whose homes are being destroyed and whose lives are being subjected to constant danger. Their answer is always the same: ‘Hitler has not got us down.’ I believe that the Battle of Britain is the turning point of the war. Defeat of this attack marks the turning of the tide. We may have to endure worse things yet. There is no room for easy optimism, but there is every cause for confidence.”

The unexpected problems, Mr Attlee continued, which had arisen from the attack on London were being tackled with vigour. “What Nazism stands for is the destruction not only of the old beautiful things which we inherited from the past, but the homes and lives of kindly men and women,” he said. “We here in Britain are standing for the future of mankind. When Hitler is defeated we will join together with all the men and women of goodwill to build up a new world and a new Britain on better and closer foundations than the old world which is passing away for ever.” Tire military uselessness of the haphazard German bombing was emphasized by the Minister of Economic Warfare, Dr Hugh Dalton, in speaking to his constituents at Bishop Auckland. Dr Dalton said: “Indiscriminate bombing of the civilian population will never win the war. On the contrary, from a military point of view, it is stupid to waste good bombs. “While Hitler is destroying workers’ homes, children’s hospitals, drapers’ stores, co-operative stores and public buildings, the Royal Air Force is concentrating on hitting invasion ports, barges, aircraft factories and oil plants. We are destroying Hitler’s power to wage war. He is only increasing our will to fight on till decisive victory has been won.

“Our airmen' never fail to respond magnificently. The spirit of our people is wonderful; their courage and indifference to danger are a continual inspiration. When victory comes and the enemy’s power has been utterly broken, many old ideas and old prejudices will also have been bombed and burned away. Those who survive must bring a new world order and bring social justice to this island. Before these things can be we must win the war.”